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Zahir Shah*
As the author shares Baba's back story, he writes, "In 1933, the year Baba was born and the year Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan..." (Hosseini 24). I think the quote is important because not only does it show Baba's age and wisdom, but it tells you the country's ruler at the time of the story. The time period shows what society is like during the story. For instance, when Baba and Amir have to leave Afghanistan, I can infer that it was because of a change in leaders. -
Baba's Success*
At the beginning of the story, Amir tells the readers about Baba and his incredible feats. "In the late 1960's, when I was five or six, Baba decided to build an orphanage" (Hosseini 13). Baba was a wealthy man, who gained his high rank by working hard and proving people wrong. Baba is a great man, and Amir feels that he is unworthy to be his son because he can never impress his father. -
Baba and Amir; Like Father Like Son*
Baba and amir have never had a real connection or even similar hobby. Amir senses Baba's disappointment and thinks, "The least I could have sone was to have the decency to have turned out a little more like him" (Hossieni 19). Early in the book, the reader learns more about the father-son relationship of Baba and Amir and why Amir is always trying to impress him. Baba doesn't fully accept Amir for who he is and Amir doesn't fully respect Baba, for that same reason. -
Amir and Hassan: Early Days*
When Amir and Hassan were young boys, "[Amir] played another trick on Hassan" (Hosseini 30). The boys are so innocent and childish at this point in the story, demonstrating their care-free relationship, that is nothing but fun for the two of them. It's like a superhero's life before it's ruined by an evil bad-guy. The scene also shows who has power in the friendship, and how Amir thinks less of Hassan. -
Change in Leadership*
After a night of chaos, "...Kabul awoke the next morning to find the monarchy was a thing of the past" (Hosseini 36). As mentioned earlier, the leadership of Afghanistan is important for the reader's comprehension of the story. The event is also big because it brings great changes into Amir and Baba's lifestyle. -
Period: to
History of Afghanistan
*= from the book -
Mohammed Daoud Khan
Khan was the first President of Afghanistan, who came into power by overthrowing the Musahiban monarchy. Khan was a powerful dictator who "grants women rights and works to modernize the largely communist state" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). Khan remained in charge by forcing non-supporters out of power and allied Afghanistan to the USSR. -
End of an Era*
Immediately following his kite tournament victory, Amir "saw Hassan run a kite for the last time" (Hosseini 55). To the reader, this quote implies that something bad is about to happen to either Amir or Hassan, that will change their lives forever. It also foreshadows the changes that'll happen within their close relationship. -
Khan Assassination
Khan was assassinated in a communist led coup. A leader of the Afghan Communist Party, Nur Mohammad Taraki, takes over as president. Taraki "proclaims independence from Soviet influence, and declare their policies to be based on Islamic principles" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
US support ceases
The American Ambassador is killed, resulting in the U.S. cutting off assistance to Afghanistan. In the same year, Russia invades Afghanistan "to bolster the faltering communist regime" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
End of Amir's Afghanistan*
As Hassan flashes back to his childhood, he explains, "Russian tanks would roll into the very same streets where Hassan and I played, bringing the death of the Afghanistan I knew" (Hosseini 36). With this sentence, the author is giving the reader more insight into why Amir leaves home and the cause of his departure. It also foreshadows to how bad Afghanistan will worsen when Amir leaves. -
Baba's Courage*
As Baba and Amir are traveling out of Afghanistan, Russian soldiers require a woman in order for the group to escape, "that was when Baba stood up" (Hosseini 115). The event further shows the differences between Baba and Amir, and their reactions to danger. It also demonstrates another time where Amir could've stood up for someone about to get raped, but instead sat there, scared, even trying to get Baba to sit down too. -
War Issues
Due to the war, more than 3 million Afghan citizens fled to Pakistan and Iran. The Afghan used guerirlla warfare to "gain control of rural areas", while Russian soldiers "hold urban areas" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Amir Graduates*
When 20 year old Amir graduates from high school, Baba says to him, "'I am [proud], Amir'" (Hosseini 131). The quote from Baba exemplifies he and Amir's new loving and supportive relationship, that they created upon their move to America. In addition, shows how Baba and Amir are more alike than we thought. Both men accomplished what was completely unexpected of them. -
Amir's First Book*
When Baba and Amir move to California, "six months before the Soviets withdrew from Afghnaistan, [Amir] finished [his] first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul" (Hosseini 182). The quote illustrates how Amir and Baba's relationship has greatly improved, to the point of support and pride. In addition, it demonstrates the changes in their homeland, and how those changes brought them even closer together. -
Osama Bin-Laden
Bin-Laden, a leading member of al-Quida, went on with their "jihad, or holy war" against Russia because the USSR "oppose their goal of pure nation governed by Islam" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Treaty
In Geneva, the United States, Russia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan signed a peace treaty granting Afghanistan independence and forcing out Russian troops. However, the war still continued "against the Soviet-backed regime of communist president Dr. Mohammad Najibullah" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Sanubar*
One day in 1990, an old, broken woman arrives at Hassan and Rahim Khan's doorstep, and she says, "'You smiled coming out of me... And I wouldn't even hold you. Allah forgive me.'" (Hosseini 210). The elderly woman is Sanubar, Hassan's estranged mother, coming back to her son after 26 years to gain God's forgiveness. Sanubar's return makes for a great turn in the plot, and for me, foreshadowed at another character returning to their past, to gain forgiveness and redeem themselves. -
Rebellion
Afghan rebel groups storm Kabul's capital and take Najibullah out of power. The most popular rebel group, Mujahadeen, comes into power to "form a largely Islamic state with professor Burhannundin Rabbani as president" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Northern Alliance*
According to Rahim Khan, when the Northern Alliance took over, if you went town to town "'...to buy carpet, you risked getting shot by a sniper or getting blown up by a rocket'" (Hosseini 199). When Amir and Baba fled the country, then left knowing that Afghanistan was going to worsen. Rahim Khan is being horribly treated, as is the rest of the population, because of the Taliaban and the Northern Alliance. Afghanistan is a war zone, and Amir was lucky to escape when he did. -
Sanubar Dies*
Just 4 years after her arrival, Sanuabr passed away. The author describes her as, "calm, at peace, like she didn't mind dying now" (Hosseini 211). This quote is important to the story because Sanubar's death greatly resembles Baba's. When both died, they were at peace and had just become close to their children. Baba and Sanubar both passed peacefully, knowing that niether would die with any regret or unhappiness. -
Taliban
The Taliban, an Islamic militia is formed and promises peace. They rise to power because most citizens "approve of the Taliban for upholding traditional Islamic values"(http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). As a result, the Taliban take away education, employment of women, and force women to show no skin. In addition, the Taliban practice public executions and amputations. The Taliban are refused by the U.S. -
Al-Qaida
Al-Qaida bombs two American embassies in Africa, causing "President Clinton [to order] missile attacks against bin Laden's training camps in Afghanistan" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Drought
The drought in Afghanistan continues "and makes many rural areas uninhabitable" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). Again, a million Afghans flee to Pakistan. -
Soraya and the General*
After years and years of disappointment, "The general's frailty-and-time-had softened things between him and Soraya" (Hosseini 193). I chose to add this quote because it reminded me of Baba and Amir. After the move(time), Baba and Amir got along and became much closer. When Hosseini writes that the general sometimes sat in on Soraya's classes and took notes, it connects to Baba finally accepting that Amir isn't going to be just like him, and realizing that all Amir wants is love and support. -
No More Guilt*
As Assef is beating the life out of Amir, Amir thinks, "for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace" (Hossieni 289). Amir is finally getting rid of the guilt he's has since he was a teenager. I believe that Amir is somewhat grateful for the beating because now he'll die with no regrets and the knowing that he did the right thing for his family.
